Friday, September 16, 2011

Configure SSH on ESXi 4.0 Host

Steps to configure SSH on ESXi 4.0 Host.

From the main screen on the ESXi host press Alt + F1.

At the next screen type:

unsupported

and enter the root password when prompted.

Use a text editor to uncomment (remove the hash symbol #) from the beggining of the following line in the file /etc/inetd.conf. Then save the changes:
# ssh stream tcp nowait root /sbin/dropbearmulti dropbear -l

Resatrt the process called inetd by running:

#cat /var/run/inetd.pid
#kill -HUP


Verify the ESXi host is accessible by SSH. To do this from the SSH client, log into the ESX host:

~ # dbclient root@server
The output will be similar to:

6 comments:

gt1177 said...

This process has become simpler and easier on VMware 5.x. Enabling ssh on esx hosts surprisingly is not done by default. Understanding the network security concerns however makes enabling support for esx a manual process explainable. 4.x VMware was a little clumsy in the way ssh had to be enabled. Ssh is a useful and neccesafy support toll for the host server in time of need.

gt1177 said...

This process has become simpler and easier on VMware 5.x. Enabling ssh on esx hosts surprisingly is not done by default. Understanding the network security concerns however makes enabling support for esx a manual process explainable. 4.x VMware was a little clumsy in the way ssh had to be enabled. Ssh is a useful and neccesafy support toll for the host server in time of need.

lenny22 said...

Just recently I needed to use SSH as a support tool for esxi. As it turns out we all have to use this basic but useful tool for supporting vmware and other servers and services. It is not exactly online remote support software but when there is a large problem any tool for support is better than none. Although it is a simple tool to use and is basically just a command line on the system, it permits access to the server on a level that is not always easily attained with other online remote support software.

HP Support said...

The process of enabling SSH has become easier and straight forward with 5.x . I noticed with vSphere 5.5 a message is displayed while connected to the servers with the vSphere client indicating that SSH is enabled on the server.

gtech said...

SSH is remote support software when used in such a manner as to provide support remotely. SSH connections like remote support software or online remote support software can be completed through the local network or over the Internet via web based access. SSH however to connect inwards to accomplish the task of remote support on a server fro ma remote location will require the gateway of firewall on the remote network to allow the protocol through. The connection has to be made from the Outside inward to to the local network. From within the local network, online remote support software and SSH alike can make direct connections to the server or host. The major significant difference between using ssh for remote support and the traditional remote support software or online remote support software is remote control .SSH does not enable access in the form of remote control or desktop screen sharing. Although it can be used as a tunneling protocol which through the tunnel remote control programs more associated with online remote support software connect through. Online remote support software is not just provides a basis for connection and a command window on a remote system,. it permits and facilitate remote desktop control with screen-sharing access. The screen-sharing can be in both directions as some applications permit such bi-directional inputs and controls or one way. Some models of online remote support software also offer view-only modes of the remote desktop and also file transfer.

hp support said...

HP Technical Support